Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-10-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
Miss Taft's Legacy.

Miss Taft was waiting in the doctors front
Office for DIR. Moore tn come in. She was n
rich lady, still. by. courtesy. called young. Her
money was. all her own. and she had more than
she knew how to spend, Perhaps. If she had
been poorer. she would not have had SO many
mysterious affiictions-a pain here and pain
there; a trouble. In her chest; queer feeling
in her hack.
Every week she called the doctor or went to
see him, and swalluwed nearly rs much medi-
she'had bottles nhd pots and jars enough TO
startan apothecarp. p. a1rG Ye
This time her Iittls finger felt queer and she
had dropped in and was waiting for DIR. Moore
with some impatieuees when she heard linn
enter the back parloE The doors were drawn.
hut she expected them to open in moment
being unaware that the, servant had gone
across the street to speak to friend at door
way. and had mot notified the doctor Of her
presence. -'
N the little Village where Niles Taft had
spent her alife.,tle doctor prepared his own
medicines. and was liis own druggist. and the
assistant was pounding something in a mortar
when the doctor spoke TO him: 10 IrnC -
-''Wiliiam !" ilhr f= .-u.t .rrE
g Yes. sir" 3.t5 .-ssr e..
:: Did you mix the licorice and water7''.
Z" Yes. sir.,"'' ..- ., on ~ ..-.-.,,. ...
Put this label on it. Miss Taft is sure to
come in tlIis week"
But you don't give her licorice and water
for everything. do you?"
Different fsIvoring." suid the doctor
'Nfiss Taft is an excellent woman but thereik
nothing in the world the matter with her II
1 were to toll her 40 she would only 90 TO Dr.
Bolus. and he might kill her. need my fees
She is rich. Itdoes not hurt her. and / take
care that she Sha'n't be injured. Not highly
cnnsceeutious. i know. but must live"
The assistant laughed, .-.., d. I.... ..,r
"rn not betray you" he said. and the pound
ing went on.
Miss Taft. boiling with rage. advanced to-
ward the folding door. Then she felt that her
face was flushed. and remembered that when
she slost her temper she also forgot her dignity !;
so she quietly turned into the hallway and out
into the street. .HE.: IT,. p.fE~f- Yl-.i
"IwiH write him note. y she said" note
that shall crush him with shame, and win
never go to him ngain." ..,a.-f ns. t.J.. ..,lY-
As she hnrried along many people nodded or
bowed TO her. for she was very popular, and on
one corner she met the minister's wife.
Fresh as a rose. declare. Miss Taft" this
lady cried, with all the town sick. believe
it must be DR.. Moore who keeps you so well.
BoIus has all tiis patients on their backs. It's
a pity he gets so many. Moore is such a care
fnl man. and vet. they tell me can barely live
His ASSISTANT tells dreadful stories of his strpg
giles. Speak well nf him at the Browns. wont
you7 If They'd charge l think Mrs. Brown
do for everybody" .#-.T l-r.. 4.
Those DIR. Moore certainly does not give,
said Miss Taft. Then she found herself laugh,
ing. sense of humor is great help to the
temper The funny side of the picture was
presented to her.
Licorice water. indeed.
Salt and water once she felt sure: rose water
another time: sugar and vanilla before that
oh! 1t was funny. and she had measured and
dropped 80 carefully. and kept her eyes on the
clock. taking her doses as precisely as If life de-
pended on it. By the time she reached home
her ideas had changed.
She took from the shelf great volume of
somebody's Family Medicine and read the
symptoms of small pox carefully. Then che
threw a shawl about her. and lay down upon
a sofa. ard sent a servant for DR.. Moore.
:" Tell him to rum" she said, maIicioasly !;
she knew he had no gig. -.--'--
The doctor came. am afraid he did not
run, but he was prompt: and Mics Taft. Who
had managed IL grow grave, described eEery
symptom OF smallpox. adding that she thought
she had been exposed 20 the infection on the
cars curing late journey.
The doctor was alarmed. bnt puzzled.
Your pulse seems all right he said.
You really surprise me; but 1 will send
you something"
He did. For week he came every day !;
then Miss Taft declared herEeiI we'll.
A few days after she had symptoms Of yellow
fever-if her word was TO be believed.
For some time the doctor came regularly as
before. Indt ed. from that time he never knew
when Miss Taft would send for him--at dawn
and dusk. at noon and midnight from his bed
in coldtst winter. fr0m=his dinner when he was
the hungTiest. Finally he decided that She Sas
actually mad woman but she paid her.biIis
promptly. paid for all ti1e, medicine, and was
! always asking for more. ,,-..---s- --.-,
This vent on for years. At last. at / he age
of eighty. DR.. BoIus. With many murders on
his uneOnscious old soul-for he really thought
himself a wonderful physi:ian-retired from
practice.
Naturally the families thus saved called IN